Aaron waited patiently, his hand still outstretched. In the darkness, the two men stood at an impasse. Finally, Nate relented and handed over the bag, but not without saying, "You can’t give her a future." The truth of their relationship loomed large. Even though Aaron wasn’t biologically related to the Ace family, and therefore had no blood ties to Lena, in everyone else’s eyes, they were family—close family. For them to transition from uncle and niece to lovers would invite condemnation, gossip, and endless scrutiny. The weight of public opinion was crushing. Aaron could choose to ignore it, but what about Lena? "Mr. Ace, true love means protecting her from harm," Nate added as Aaron turned to leave. Nate knew his words were tinged with selfishness—after all, he still had feelings for Lena—but his concern for her was genuine. Aaron didn’t falter. With Lena’s bag in hand, his steps were firm and confident. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable edge. "Dr. Neumann,
When Lena arrived and took in the sight before her, she uttered three simple words: “You’re insane.” To anyone else, Keira probably did look insane—spending a million dollars on a dilapidated courtyard. The walls were crumbling, the roof had gaping holes, and the yard was overrun with weeds. "This is what people mean by to carry water to the sea. I’ve finally seen it with my own eyes," Lena grumbled as she scanned the mess with a look of utter disappointment. "If you’ve got money to burn, why not donate it to someone who actually needs it?" Keira didn’t bother defending herself. She just smiled and said, “Give me a month. You won’t even recognize this place.” Lena sighed heavily. "Sure, you can fix it up, but why not just buy a new property and build from scratch? Why insist on renovating this pile of rubble?" "Sure, it’s a mess now, but it’s got character. Renovating something old brings out a charm you can’t recreate with something new. Just wait—you’ll witness a miracle,"
“Afraid I’ll steal their jobs?” Hayden teased, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “They’re just curious,” Keira replied, watching him deftly sand the wood. “How do you know how to do all this? Have you done it before?” Hayden paused his work. “Yeah, I’ve done all this before.” Keira handed him a bottle of water, brushing the wood shavings off his face as she sat beside him. “Don’t tell me you used to make a living doing this.” Hayden took a sip of water. “I did. I made money this way to pay for my tuition and cover Yuna’s medical bills. Otherwise, my mom would’ve had too much to bear on her own.” Hearing him mention this, Keira couldn’t help but think about the deaths of his father and my parents. But those things were in the past. Instead, Keira focused on his age back then. “You couldn’t have been very old at the time, right?” “Eleven or twelve,” Hayden said. “But I was already tall—just skinny. When I went to construction sites, people thought I was fifteen or sixteen
They say what you thought about during the day would appear in your dreams at night. The night before Keira planned to visit Jace, she dreamed of him. He stood at the foot of her bed, dressed in a pure white monk’s robe. "Rea, look at me," he said softly. Hearing his voice, Keira opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, she felt a wave of disorientation, as if the person before her wasn’t him but a celestial being descended from the heavens. "Why are you here? I was just about to visit you," Keira said, sitting up slowly. "Mm, I know. That’s why I came to see you first," Jace replied. He was the same as Keira remembered, but thinner, and an air of ethereal detachment clung to him. "But you didn’t answer my calls. I was so worried about you," Keira said with a smile, though her heart felt heavy, as though something was pressing down on it. "My fault," he said, reaching out to pat her head. "But from now on, you don’t need to worry about me anymore." "Jace, I bought a cou
Hayden’s dedication to the courtyard was no less than hers. On any other day, Keira would have been thrilled to follow his lead and share in the excitement. But today, she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Her attention was fixed entirely on the temple gates. Even as the sun rose higher into the sky, the gates remained shut, and the unease in her heart grew heavier. When Abbot Levinsky was still here, he opened the gates every morning without fail. After Jace arrived, he took over the task and once told her that opening the temple gates each day was like opening the door to one’s heart. But today... why hadn’t he come? Was he unwell? The thought sent a ripple of panic through her. Unable to wait any longer, Keira stepped forward and knocked on the door. After what felt like an eternity, someone finally answered—a lay disciple living at the monastery. "Apologies," he said with a slight bow. "Master Gregory might have overslept today." Gregory. That was Jace’s monastic name
Keira couldn’t accept that Jace was gone. That he had chosen to leave like this. Even though he said it was his way of taking responsibility for himself, she couldn’t reconcile it. And his illness? Keira knew nothing about it... No! She had noticed. The blood he coughed up in front of her, the nosebleeds, the repeated hospital stays, his increasingly thin frame—these were all signs. But she ignored them. She didn’t care enough, didn’t pay attention enough, and brushed it all aside. Though the romantic love between Jace and Keira had long since faded, he remained one of the most important people in her life. He was her family. He was there as she grew up, bringing her warm sugar water when she had her first period, standing up for her and kicking bullies away without hesitation. Jace wasn’t just a past lover. He was the person who witnessed her youth, shared her journey, and taught her how to navigate life. And now, he had slipped out of her world without a word, witho
When Keira first learned that Jace had entered the Carthusian monastery, she didn’t understand. She even thought he was doing it for Abbot Levinsky or because he had become disillusioned with life after the family turmoil. Only now did she realize he knew his time was limited. He had gone there to spend the remainder of his days in peace. Jace lived his life with pride and abandon. He had stood at the pinnacle, admired by all, and had also fallen from grace when love led him astray. He had once gone to extremes to win her back and later turned against his own brother to protect her. His life was brief—only a third as long as others’—but it burned brightly, full of passion and color. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much she missed him, he was gone. - When Gavin arrived and learned of Jace’s passing, tears streamed down his face. Then, in a sudden outburst, he slapped himself twice. "It’s all my fault. How could I not have noticed something was wrong with him?" "Y
What an entrance! Everyone turned to look at the source of the bold voice. A tall woman strutted in, dressed in a mix of luxury and extravagance: a fur coat on top, leather pants on the bottom, and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. No one seemed to recognize her, and whispers began to ripple through the courtyard. “Who is she?” One of the bolder ones shot Hayden a look and joked, “Is this one of your unresolved affairs?” Unfazed, Hayden replied calmly, “She’s not here for me.” Keira, however, wasn’t surprised by the woman's sudden appearance. Nor did she hold back. “Who are you, and why would we need to notify you?” This remark drew curious glances toward her. The woman, unfazed, swayed her hips dramatically and smirked. “You’re acting all high and mighty already, and you’re not even Mrs. Hart yet?” Her words immediately shifted the attention to Hayden. It was a clear jab at him for not having formally married Keira yet, suggesting he’d shortchanged he
Tonight, Lena had stayed late at the hospital for surgery. When she returned, she didn’t see Aaron’s car and assumed he wasn’t home. Without having eaten dinner, she cooked some noodles and was chatting with Keira while eating. Out of nowhere, Aaron appeared. He was dressed in loungewear, his hair slightly damp as if he’d just showered—clearly, he had been home all along. “Uncle… you, you’re home?” Lena stammered, hurriedly trying to turn off her phone. In her flustered state, she accidentally knocked over the bowl of noodles she had barely touched. She was embarrassed, frustrated, and downright annoyed. What a mess—starving to death, and now the noodles were gone too. Aaron, having clearly overheard Keira's voice message, seemed completely composed. He walked over and stopped her from grabbing at the spilled noodles. “Let me handle this. Did you burn yourself?” “No burns, just scared by you,” Lena replied as she finally managed to turn off the voice message. As Aaron clean
“Kiki, I promise to give you an opening ceremony that will surprise and delight you. Please agree, will you?” Hayden pleaded, holding Keira's hand like a spoiled child. He rarely pressed her for anything, and his insistence puzzled her. But seeing his sincerity, she could only nod. “Fine, but don’t turn my courtyard into a chaotic mess, and definitely don’t invite irrelevant people.” This small courtyard was her serene haven. She enjoyed making tea for visitors and watching the sunrise and breeze when alone—it was enough for her. “As you wish, Mrs. Hart,” he exclaimed, excitement lighting up his face before he kissed her swiftly on the cheek. However, after the kiss, he didn’t let go. Instead, he gazed at her for a few seconds before his lips landed on hers again. It had been a long time since they kissed so passionately. As his kisses deepened and his arms tightened around her, she could clearly feel the changes in his body. Keira was already past her third month of pregna
“What did Sasha come to talk to you about?” That evening, as Hayden dried Keira's hair, he asked her softly. He rarely pried, but he must have noticed her low spirits ever since Sasha left and figured something was on her mind. “Do you think the Drago family’s influence has been completely eradicated?” Keira asked, her question making Hayden pause mid-motion. “On the surface, it seems so,” he replied, turning off the hairdryer. “But Thorsten had loyal confidants over the years. It’s possible there are still remnants left unchecked. Did Sasha notice something?” Keira shook her head slightly. “She told me she opened a private bank account, one that no one knows about. She said if anything happens to her—if she’s gone suddenly or meets with some accident—I should ensure the money is kept for Nina.” Hayden frowned, his gaze turning serious. “For her to bring this up out of nowhere, something must be wrong. Do you think she’s worried the Drago family's remnants might target her?
When Keira's parents first passed away, she missed them so much it felt like self-inflicted torture. She clawed at my own skin until it bled, as if the physical pain could dull the ache of losing them. The saying "longing cuts to the bone" couldn’t be truer. “She’s impossible—just like her father, stubborn as a mule,” Sasha muttered. Patience had never been her strong suit. “Bring her here next weekend when she’s not at school,” Keira offered. “I like Nina.” “Great, I’ll pay you babysitting fees.” Keira gave her a faint smile. “My rates are very high, you know.” They strolled around the courtyard, and Keira eventually led her to a tea table where they sat down. She started preparing tea for her, letting the tranquil act of brewing set the tone. “Keira,” she suddenly said, her tone unusually serious. “You’re living such a peaceful and carefree life now.” Around the fire, brewing tea—it wasn’t just about the drink itself. It was about savoring the taste, reflecting on lif
What an entrance! Everyone turned to look at the source of the bold voice. A tall woman strutted in, dressed in a mix of luxury and extravagance: a fur coat on top, leather pants on the bottom, and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. No one seemed to recognize her, and whispers began to ripple through the courtyard. “Who is she?” One of the bolder ones shot Hayden a look and joked, “Is this one of your unresolved affairs?” Unfazed, Hayden replied calmly, “She’s not here for me.” Keira, however, wasn’t surprised by the woman's sudden appearance. Nor did she hold back. “Who are you, and why would we need to notify you?” This remark drew curious glances toward her. The woman, unfazed, swayed her hips dramatically and smirked. “You’re acting all high and mighty already, and you’re not even Mrs. Hart yet?” Her words immediately shifted the attention to Hayden. It was a clear jab at him for not having formally married Keira yet, suggesting he’d shortchanged he
When Keira first learned that Jace had entered the Carthusian monastery, she didn’t understand. She even thought he was doing it for Abbot Levinsky or because he had become disillusioned with life after the family turmoil. Only now did she realize he knew his time was limited. He had gone there to spend the remainder of his days in peace. Jace lived his life with pride and abandon. He had stood at the pinnacle, admired by all, and had also fallen from grace when love led him astray. He had once gone to extremes to win her back and later turned against his own brother to protect her. His life was brief—only a third as long as others’—but it burned brightly, full of passion and color. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much she missed him, he was gone. - When Gavin arrived and learned of Jace’s passing, tears streamed down his face. Then, in a sudden outburst, he slapped himself twice. "It’s all my fault. How could I not have noticed something was wrong with him?" "Y
Keira couldn’t accept that Jace was gone. That he had chosen to leave like this. Even though he said it was his way of taking responsibility for himself, she couldn’t reconcile it. And his illness? Keira knew nothing about it... No! She had noticed. The blood he coughed up in front of her, the nosebleeds, the repeated hospital stays, his increasingly thin frame—these were all signs. But she ignored them. She didn’t care enough, didn’t pay attention enough, and brushed it all aside. Though the romantic love between Jace and Keira had long since faded, he remained one of the most important people in her life. He was her family. He was there as she grew up, bringing her warm sugar water when she had her first period, standing up for her and kicking bullies away without hesitation. Jace wasn’t just a past lover. He was the person who witnessed her youth, shared her journey, and taught her how to navigate life. And now, he had slipped out of her world without a word, witho
Hayden’s dedication to the courtyard was no less than hers. On any other day, Keira would have been thrilled to follow his lead and share in the excitement. But today, she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Her attention was fixed entirely on the temple gates. Even as the sun rose higher into the sky, the gates remained shut, and the unease in her heart grew heavier. When Abbot Levinsky was still here, he opened the gates every morning without fail. After Jace arrived, he took over the task and once told her that opening the temple gates each day was like opening the door to one’s heart. But today... why hadn’t he come? Was he unwell? The thought sent a ripple of panic through her. Unable to wait any longer, Keira stepped forward and knocked on the door. After what felt like an eternity, someone finally answered—a lay disciple living at the monastery. "Apologies," he said with a slight bow. "Master Gregory might have overslept today." Gregory. That was Jace’s monastic name
They say what you thought about during the day would appear in your dreams at night. The night before Keira planned to visit Jace, she dreamed of him. He stood at the foot of her bed, dressed in a pure white monk’s robe. "Rea, look at me," he said softly. Hearing his voice, Keira opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, she felt a wave of disorientation, as if the person before her wasn’t him but a celestial being descended from the heavens. "Why are you here? I was just about to visit you," Keira said, sitting up slowly. "Mm, I know. That’s why I came to see you first," Jace replied. He was the same as Keira remembered, but thinner, and an air of ethereal detachment clung to him. "But you didn’t answer my calls. I was so worried about you," Keira said with a smile, though her heart felt heavy, as though something was pressing down on it. "My fault," he said, reaching out to pat her head. "But from now on, you don’t need to worry about me anymore." "Jace, I bought a cou